New Portland Wire Bridge

The New Portland Wire Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the Carrabassett River in Maine, supported by wooden towers mounted on granite blocks with steel cables. The structure stretches about 188 feet and uses stone anchors at each end to hold the cable system in place.

Built between 1864 and 1866 by David Eider and Captain Charles Clark, it remains the only surviving example of four wire bridges that once existed in Maine. The construction method was a brief innovation in American bridge building before other techniques replaced it.

Locals and visitors recognize it as a symbol of 19th-century American engineering craftsmanship that survived when similar structures disappeared. The bridge draws people who want to see how communities once solved practical problems using available materials like wood, stone, and metal.

The bridge is located on Wire Bridge Road and designed for single-lane traffic with a three-ton weight limit per crossing. Visitors should approach slowly since the passage is narrow and the structure is historic.

The bridge features 204 steel girders connecting the main cables to the wooden plank deck, an unusually complex solution for its era. This number of girders shows the careful engineering thought required to distribute the load evenly across the span.

Location: Maine

GPS coordinates: 44.89080,-70.09360

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:26